Weekly Spartan Blog: October 13-17, 2014

Spartan PRIDE

Supporting our school community core values.

Our staff read a book this past summer that has real potential to impact student thinking about talent and intelligence.  The book, Mindset by Carol Dweck, discuss the role of mindset in learning and life.  People approach life from a growth mindset or fixed mindset.  A growth mindset people believe intelligence can be developed through hard work, effort, persistence and good coaching/instruction.  A fixed mindset person views intelligence as fixed; unchangeable over time.   Both mindsets can change or be altered with different circumstances of life.  

Carol Dweck, world renowned Stanford University psychologist, talks about the power of our mindset or our beliefs; especially around challenge.  We can either have a fixed Mindset where we let failure (or even success) define who we are or Growth Mindset where we see setbacks as opportunities to grow and improve ourselves.  The following recipe below was generated from three books I've read on the topic of mindset.  I have shared this recipe with my FLEX time class and discussed with them strategies to create the conditions for success.   The Spartan Challenge created by our students at the beginning of the year supports a growth mindset.  Mindset; it is up to you!

Spearfish Middle School

Weekly Faculty Bulletin

October 13-17, 2014

“Empowering all students to succeed in a changing world.”

• Preparedness  • Respect  • Integrity  • Determination  • Excellence    

1)       FLEX Block 2 Course Registration: Monday, October 13-17  (Please arrange for a core teacher to register students for FLEX Block 2 this week)

-Go to Mr. Baier’s Homepage to view the course descriptions and to register.  The links are available and online for access today and through next week.

2)        Student Leadership Cards:  Please hand out the cards, and discuss with those students the potential for leadership you see in them.  Cards need to be turned in to START teachers or the counselors’ office by October 22nd 

3)       Parent Teacher Conferences:  Wednesday, October 15^th 3:45 – 7:00 p.m.

-7^th and 8^th Grade in the gymnasium & 6^th grade scheduled throughout the week

-SMS parents are providing food for conferences

4)       SLO due date and growth targets for non-teaching staff:  Wednesday, October 15^th

5)       Scholastic Book Fair:  through next Friday, October 17^th in the SMS Library

6)       Newspapers in Education:  Pick up your papers on Wednesday morning from the Lounge. 

7)       SLL Saturday School, (If needed):  Saturday, October 18^th, 8 a.m. to noon.  See Kevin if interested in serving as the teacher.  Provide Kevin with names by Thursday a.m.

Upcoming Activities October 20                            Parents as Partners, SMS Library, 6-7 p.m. November 5                          1 PM Early Release November 6                          Staff Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in the SMS Library November 11                       Veterans Day Program at SMS November 11                       Team Leader Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in the conference room November 17-19                 AdvancED Systems Review December 1                          Parents as Partners, 6-7 p.m. in the SMS Library December 1                          Day of Understanding Assembly, (8:30 a.m.) & Leadership Training December 2                          Day of Understanding, Small Groups (6th gr. and 7th maroon in AM & 7th white and 8th gr. in PM)     December 9                          Team Leader Mtg., 7:30 a.m. (date change from Dec. 2nd) December 11                        Staff Mtg., 7:30 a.m. (date change from Dec. 4th)

“Give what you have to somebody, it may be better than you think.”

                                                                                                           -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Make it a great week,                                                                                                  

Shane